Q.: There are widespread disastersspreading havoc in the world e.g.,famine and pestilence.What is the cause of this state of affairs?

M.: To whom does all this appear?

Q.: That won?t do.I see misery around.

M.: You were not aware of the world and its sufferings in your sleep;you are conscious of them in your wakeful state.Continue in that state in which you were not afflicted by these.That is to say,when you are not aware of the world,its sufferings do not affect you.When you remain as the Self,as in sleep,the world and its sufferings will not affect you.Therefore look within.See the Self!There will be an end of the worldand its miseries.

Q.: But that is selfishness.

M.: The world is not external.Because you identify yourself wrongly with the bodyyou see the world outside,and its pain becomes apparent to you.But they are not real.Seek the reality andget rid of this unreal feeling.

Q.: There are great men, public workers,who cannot solve the problem of the misery of the world.

M.: They are ego-centredand therefore their inability.If they remained in the Selfthey would be different.

Q.: Why do not Mahatmas help?

M.: How do you know that they do not help?Public speeches,physical activity and material helpare all outweighed by the silence of Mahatmas.They accomplish more than others.

Q.: What is to be done by usfor ameliorating the condition of the world?

M.: If you remain free from pain,there will be no pain anywhere.The trouble now is due to your seeing the world externallyand also thinking that there is pain there.But both the world and the pain are within you.If you look within there will be no pain.

Q.: God is perfect.Why did He create the world imperfect?The work shares the nature of the author.But here it is not so.

M.: Who is it that raises the question?

Q.: I - the individual.

M.: Are you apart from Godthat you ask this question?So long as you consider yourself the bodyyou see the world as external.The imperfections appear to you.God is perfection.His work also is perfection.But you see it as imperfectionbecause of your wrong identification.

Q.: Why did the Self manifest as this miserable world?

M.: In order that you might seek it.Your eyes cannot see themselves.Place a mirror before them and they see themselves.Similarly with the creation.

?See yourself first and then see the whole world as the Self.?

Q.: So it amounts to this -that I should always look within.

M.: Yes.

Q.: Should I not see the world at all?

M.: You are not instructed to shut your eyes from the world.You are only to

?see yourself first and then see the whole world as the Self?.

If you consider yourself as the bodythe world appears to be external.If you are the Selfthe world appears as Brahman.

?Whatever happens in Bharatha Desam we need to ensure the King of all Vrattas Ekadasi has to be revived and practiced by all; This Vrattam is a Maha Dharma that was practiced very sincerely until two or three generations ago but has been robbed since then. We need to realize because of a couple Maadhwa elderly women observing Ekadasi Shuddha Upavasam sincerely today we get rains.? ? Sri Kanchi Maha Periyava

?We do not become weak or lose our health if we observe upavasam, in fact it is the other way around. ?Langanam Parama Oushadham? (Fasting is the best cure or medicine) is what the Ayurveda Sastras say. It may be tough to start but with practice we can overcome it. With Bhagawath Bakthi and Sankalpam we will realize the fruits we get out of fasting which will strengthen our resolve to observe upavasams.? ? Sri Kanchi Maha Periyava

Jaya Jaya Shankara Hara Hara Shankara,

Ekadasi, the mother of all Vrattams comes in the next day or two depending on where we live. Please check your Panchangam or Calendar for Thithi as it is based on sun rise. Sri Periyava?s strong message on observing this Vrattam is listed in the link below. The goal is to restrain ourselves from worldly activities as much as we can and spend time in Iswara Dhyanam, Purana Shravanam, and Bhagawan Nama Japam.

Here is a summary of the levels of fasting prescribed by Sri Periyava. Let?s start at level 4 and with Periyava?s grace we will progress over a period of time. All we need to do is put in our sincere effort and Periyava will show us the way. Bare minimum, ?Avoid Rice? on this day and be in Periyava Smaranam. If possible, have an early dinner before sunset on Dasami (the day before Ekadasi) as Sastras prescribes that way. Spread this message to like-minded people as well. Ram Ram.

Nirjalam ? Without water, very noble. Sathvik Liquids ? Water, Milk, Porridge Fruits and Sathvik Liquids Light Tiffin, Fruits ? Upma/Idly/Dosa/Chapatti/Poori for one session (without any Patthu) and fruits or Sathvik liquids for another session. Consume this food without any salt.

Please ?AVOID? taking rice on this day as Sri Periyava has warned about ?No atonement? if rice is consumed on this day. It is equivalent to consuming dog?s excretion in every handful we take.

Exemptions ? People who are sick, weak, elderly can consume rice without Kanji water without salt, tamarind, and spice. People are who are below 8 and above 80 are exempted though they can also fast if they can. North Indian?s especially Bengali?s, Maharashtrian?s observe this fast Nirjalam (No Water) including infants and toddlers.

Sathvik Liquids ? Water, Milk, Buttermilk (no salt), Wheat Porridge (no salt). Coffee, Tea, Choco drinks, cool drinks, alcohol, are NOT ?Sathvik? Liquids. Let?s ensure whatever we consume does not contain ?Gelatin? as it will be terrible to have it on this day or rather any day.

Ekadasi Timings ? Fasting is observed based on the existence of Ekadasi Thithi at the time of sunrise. Ekadasi may exist only for a partial day but if the Thithi on sunrise is Ekadasi consider fasting on that day. Check http://www.mypanchang.com/ for details on sunrise and thithi or your local calendars.

Breaking Fast on Dwadasi Morning ? Check the Panchagam when the Dwadasi Thithi ends the next morning and do Paaranai (have full meal) before that time. If it is too early and food cannot be prepared offer ?Thulasi? Theertham or Milk to Bhagawan and break the fast by consuming it. Agathikeerai, Nellikai Pachadi (Gooseberry/Amla), Sundakaai are items included in Dwadasi menu to bring the body back to equilibrium after the fasting day. We all have a duty to feed Gho Matha every day but it is very auspicious and parama punniyam to feed Gho Matha with Agathikeerai on Dwadasi.

?People are interested in doing Utsavam, Bikshavandanam, Kanakabhishekam, Peetarohanam, etc. for me and sing my praises. The same gets published in the media. Is there any point in this? Our goal should be to execute what is told in the Sastras. That is the real Utsavam, Bikshavandanam, Peetarohanam, and Kanakabhishekam for me.? ? Pujya Shri HH Kanchi Maha Periyav